Pipe and flue cleaner.



No. 699,289. 9 Patented May 6, I902.

--c. F. CRADDICK & a. w. 'FABLIN, IR.

George Wi'a 7 2( -15: mm? W BY 7 m c A TTORNEYS I UNITED STATES PATENTOFF-ICE.

CHARLES FLORENCE CRADDICK AND GEORGE \VILLIAM FARLIN, JR, OF BUTTE,MONTANA.

PIPE AND FLUE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,289, dated May 6,1902.

Application filed August 13, 1901. Serial No. 71,890. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OHAELEs FLORENCE 'ORADDIC and GEORGE -WILLIAM"FARLIN; -Jr., citizensof the United States, and residents of Butte, inthe county of'Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented a new andImproved Pipe and Flue Cleaner, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple, andpractical device which is adapted for convenient use and affordseffective means forthe loosening and removal of soot accumulation fromthe, interior of a stove ipe and also from the ordinary chimheyno in adwelling.

A further object is to afford aneefflcient implement for removing anobstruction from a sewer-pipe or the like.

Theinvention consistsiu thenovel c011- struction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the append ed claims.

Reference is to be had. to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference in dicatecorresponding-parts in all the figures:

Figure lisa partly-sectional and broken side view of the improvedimplement, showing the scraper-frame distended. Fig. 2 is an enlargedpartly-sectional plan view substantially on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.,Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional side View of novelvdetails substantiallyon,the line 3 3 in Fig.2, but showing working parts in'foldd adjustment; and Fig. 4. is a detail view showing a part of thescraper-framev and ascraperblade attached thereto.

The invention, in brief, comprises a laterally expansible andcontractible scraperfrarne and two elongated pusher-rods thereon, whichare laterally flexible, but longitudinally rigid. The skeletonscraper-frame when in closed condition is adapted forfree insertion intoan opening in. a stovepipe, chimney-flue, or a sewer-pipe and whenexpanded subsequently by manipulation of the pusher-rods at their endsserves, when reciprocated, to scrape and remove obstructions from thepipe or flue.

scraper-frame.

Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates a preferably coniform' head blockfor the A guide-bar 6, formed of a wire rod, is secured byone end uponor in the head-block 5, so as to project therefrom, the free end portionof the guide-bar being return bent, as at a, affording a parallel guidemember 7, which coacts with the guidebar, as is hereinafter explained.

A radial flange b is formed on the inner end of the head-block 5, and aseries of spaced perforations is formed in said flange, whereinring-eyes 0, formed on like ends of the scraper-bars 8, are looselysecured. The scraperebars 8 may be of any suitable number, eight beingshown in the drawings, and these similar members of the scraper-framehave "a hinge-joint dat or near the longitudinal center of each bar,

Upon the guide-bar 6 andparallel guide member 7 a slide-plate 9, havinga preferably circular periphery, is loosely mounted, which plate-mayreciprocateon the bar 6 and guide member 7 a distance substantiallyequal'to the length of the guide member 7. Near the periphery of theslide-plate 9 a series of spaced perforations is formed, equalinnumberto the perforations in the radial flange b, and hooks e on adjacent endsof the scraper-bars 8 are loosely engaged within the perforations in theslide-plate. v

A reinforce-platelO is secured;upon the guide-bar 6 above and near, theinner end of the head-block 5,"and.the scraper-bars 8, which have aloose engagement in radial slots formed in the plate 10, are'therebyheld from a sidewise movement in either direction.

A guide-plate 11 is loosely mounted upon the guide-bar 6intermediately'of the lower end of the guide member 7 and thereinforcing-plate 10, and upon said guide-plate-the lower end of theconnecting-rod 12isfixed, said rod passing looselyup throughtheslideplate 9 and above the same a proper distance for effectiveservice. Upon the upper end of the guide-bar 6,near the bend thereon,atransverse spacing-ring g is secured, affording an eye h above it.

A laterally-flexible pusher-rod 13 of any preferred length is provided,one end of said rod having a loose coupled engagement with the eye 7t,preferably as shown, and consisting of a ring-eye it, formed on the endof the rod, and a coupling-ring 7L2, which is inserted in the eye 7t andring-eye 7t, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The pusher-rod 13 is composed of a series of elongated metal link-bars13, having ringeyes 7). formed on their ends, and each adjacent pairofsaid integral ring-eyes have coupled engagement effected between them bya closed ring e', the free end of the pusher-rod 13 terminating in anenlarged handle-ringm, as shown in Fig. 1.

Another pusher rod 11 is furnished for movement of the connecting-rod12, and, in effect, is an extension thereof, and, as shown, thepusher-rod 14: is constructed of a series of elongated metal link-bars14:, provided with integral ring'eyes a on their ends, and saidring-eyes are coupled together in pairs by closed rings a.

At suitable points keeper-rings 0 are loosely secured in some of thering-eyes n and extend laterally therefrom to loosely engage thelinkbars 13, which engagementserves to hold the two pusher-rods properlyconnected, but free to receive independent adjustment, a handlebar 01which is loosely connected with the free extremity of the pusher-rod14:, affording means for its convenient manipulation.

It will be seen that if the handle-ring m is grasped with one hand andthe handle-bar n with the other hand the operator, pulling upon the ringandpushing the bar,wil1 spread the joints (1 of all the scraper-arms 8if the scraper-frame is in closed condition, a reverse movement of saidparts obviously eifectinga closure of the joints. A pliable shield 15,formed of any suitable material, is held upon the expansiblescraper-frame, preferably by the means shown, consisting in renderingthe edge of the shield circular and centrally perforating it, so as toadapt it for location upon the coniform body of the head-block 5.

Hooks p are secured at proper intervals upon the shield, at or near itsedge, and said hooks have hooked engagement within the eyes that areformed on the upper members of the scraper-bars 8.

To render the device effective for the removal of soot which is compactand is hard to detach from the interior of a stovepipe or chimney-flueor for the scraping of the interior of a sewer-pipe, we have shown inFig. t a scraper attachment 8 for each flexing scraper-bar 8.

The scraper-blade 8 is extended transversely of the bar 8 and at itscenter of length is secured upon the joint (I thereof in a manner whichwill permit the free flexure of the joint. The set of scraper-blades areto be of similar form; but it is to be understood that the scrapingedges thereof may be convexcurved a suitable degree or be straight, ifthis is essential.

In service the scraper-frame is contracted to its smallest dimensionswhen it is to be introduced into the aperture in the side of a stovepipeordinarily provided to control draft and permit the escape from the roomof the odor of cooking, said aperture being graduated in area orentirely closed by a slidable gate, as occasion may require; but as thedevice is not a feature of the invention it is omitted from thedrawings.

The scraper-frame is contracted laterally, as shown in Fig. 3, when itis to be introduced into a Stovepipe-opening, this being effected by themanipulation of the pusher-rods 13 14, so as to adjust them endwise inopposite directions, as before explained, and the contractedscraper-frame is then pushed into and upward within the stovepipe bygripping and pushing both rods 13 14 together.

As soon as the scraper-frame is properly inserted in the pipe so as tohead upwardly the pusher-rods 13 14 are adjusted oppositely and thescraper-frame is expanded, causing the blades 8 to impinge upon theinner surface of the stovepipe.

If desired, the improved scraperdevice may be introduced within arectangular chimneyflue through an opening in its lower portion and bereciprocated therein for the removal of soot therefrom, thescraper-frame for such a pu rpos'e having scraper-blades thereon thatare straight on their cutting edges.

It will be Seen that the flexible shield 15 i when in place on thescraper-frame facilitates the removal of loose soot from the stovepipe,which will be pushed therewith, so as to pass into the chimney-flue, andit is found in practice that if the air is rarefied in said flue byhaving a small fire in the stove the upward draft of the flue will besufiicient to carry with the upward current of hot air such loose sootas is introduced therein from the 'stovepipe during the cleaning of thelatter.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a scraper-frame havingarms that are jointed between their ends, of pusher rods connected withthe scraper-frame and adapted to flex laterally but not longitudinally.

2. The combination with elongated pusherrods independent of each other,and longitudinally unyielding but laterally flexible, of a scraper-frameformed of a plurality of jointed arms, laterally flexed by themanipulation of the pusher-rods in opposite directions, for theexpansion or contraction of the scraper-frame.

3. The combination with a scraper-frame, comprising a plurality of armshaving elbowjoints, scraper-blades on said arms at the elbow-joints, andmeans for assembling the arms so as to simultaneously adjust them forthe expansion and contraction of the scraperframe,of laterally-yieldingbut longitudinallyunyielding pusher-rods, joined by one end of each uponthe scraper-frame, so as to receive either independent or simultaneouslongitudinal movement.

4. The combination with an expansible and 5 contractible scraper-frame,comprising a plurality of arms held to rock at their ends, and havingelbow-joints between their ends, said arms also having eye-holes thereinnear the elbow-joints, of a flexible shield adapted to no envelop thelower portion of the scraperframe, and hooks on the shield near itsedge,

which may engage with the eye-holes in the arms to secure the shieldupon the scraperframe.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 15 names to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES FLORENCE CRADDIOK.

GEORGE WILLIAM FARLIN, JR.

Witnesses:

G. P. DRENNEN, JOHN A; SMITH.

